A globalised economy also requires global rules, in order that human rights are observed worldwide. In June 2011, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted the document “Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: Implementing the United Nations ‘Protect, Respect and Remedy’ Framework...

The present study by Bread for All and Swiss Catholic Lenten Fund examines how many Swiss corporations truly have a transparent human rights policy, one that also applies to its subsidiaries and suppliers...

The results of the qualitative analysis show: Among the firms that have begun implementing the UN Guiding Principles, some very innovative approaches are to be found. A few of these are also well documented. But most of the information published by companies offers neither a detailed nor a precise picture of their human rights policies, even though this is explicitly required by the Guiding Principles. The disclosures are normally not sufficient for determining if the announced measures are also effective. But this is needed to ascertain if the company has fulfilled its due diligence...